Social Forestry Restores People's Economy During A Pandemic

JAKARTA - Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya emphasized that the idea of Social Forestry came purely from President Joko Widodo. Social Forestry provides a sense of justice for the community around the forest area in obtaining access to proper and appropriate management.

The government provides legal access to the people to utilize the forest for 35 years which can be extended to 70 years.

"What is important there, the concept is access to forest management that is right and right, so the people never hesitate again," said Minister Siti in her statement, Thursday, September 29.

Minister Siti added that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry does not only provide access to forest area management but also provides business opportunities by providing assistance and the establishment of Social Forestry Business Groups (KUPS) in forest village communities.

Data from the Directorate General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership (PSKL) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, explained that to date, 1,115,678 recipients of the Social Forestry Decree (SK) have been granted access to forest areas with a total area of 5,077,087 hectares (Ha).

KUPS that have been formed so far has reached 9,926 groups with various types of businesses. The value of national economic transactions in 2022 alone is estimated to reach more than IDR 6.6 billion.

The year 2021 (IDR 10.1 billion), 2020 (IDR 24.1 billion), 2019 (IDR 16.2 billion), 2018 (IDR 3.6 billion), 2017 (IDR 6.6 billion).

The Indicative Map and the Social Forestry Area (PIAPS) show that there is potential for forest areas that can be used as Social Forestry covering an area of 14,061,562 Ha. The government is accelerating its performance to achieve the Social Forestry target by forming a Social Forestry Working Group (Pokja) and working to pick up the ball to the landed level.

In the midst of a pandemic, the government is trying to encourage the wheels of the community's economy to continue to move. Social forestry is one of the levers programs to recover economic growth at the site level.

Through Social Forestry, the Government distributes stimulants of productive economic assistance, increases the production capacity of commodities for farmer groups around the forest, and encourages social independence and the economy of the community around the forest.

During the pandemic, various innovations continued to be carried out amid limitations due to activity restrictions. The Directorate General of PSKL of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry provides assistance and training to forest villagers virtually or e-learning.